IBM has acquired WebDialogs. An interesting move – IBM isn’t a traditional software enterprise – they’re a traditional enterprise but not a traditional enterprise one.
I’ve posted in the past going out on a limb saying that it’ll be very difficult for traditional software companies to become viable and sustainable SaaS providers. IBM is different being predominantly a hardware business (kind of).
So the question to be asked is;
- Can a trad IT, non software business deliver SaaS effectively
This situation isn’t a good test case as Webdialogs will be bundled with Lotus Notes so it’s not pure SaaS. But it is an interesting development in the world of SaaS.
Watch this space…..
Ben Kepes is an analyst, an entrepreneur, a commentator and a business adviser. His business interests include a diverse range of industries from manufacturing to property to technology. As a technology commentator he has a broad presence both in the traditional media and extensively online. Ben covers the convergance of technology, mobile, ubiquity and agility, all enabled by the Cloud. His areas of interest extend to enterprise software, software integration, financial/accounting software, platforms and infrastructure as well as articulating technology simply for everyday users. 
[...] IBM buys SaaS business…I’ve posted in the past going out on a limb saying that it’ll be very difficult for traditional software companies to become viable and sustainable SaaS providers. IBM is different being predominantly a hardware business (kind of). … [...]